Prayer is something that many of us partake in, in our daily lives. Among all of the things we do each and every day, how important is our personal time with God? Is prayer something we truly indulge in, or is it just another activity within our daily routine?
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
If we are truly in God, we do not have to fear anything. Prayer is our personal time with God, our time where we can speak to him personally, open up to Him about our struggles and give thanks for what He has given us. It is a time when we can express our feelings and our hardships to God, or pray to God to ask for forgiveness. However, many of us lack faith, or do not take prayer seriously, and rather consider it as something we are just “used to doing”, because we have been taught to do so since we were young. How many people today take prayer as a serious time to have a one-on-one conversation with God? How many of us simply mutter the same words we repeat every day when it is time to pray?
Many of us don’t take prayer seriously; rather, prayer is just another part of our routine as if we were brushing our teeth. Prayer allows us as Christians to grow closer to God, by telling God how we feel, as we draw closer to him as it is through prayer that God can reveal to us what is in his heart and mind.
One of the most important aspects of prayer is seeking God, as we are told to, “Ask and it shall be added unto you”, a message highlighted in Matthew 6:33, which states:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
If we are truly in Christ, God will give unto us what we ask. We just need to seek God in our prayers earnestly. If we ask for something from God and don’t believe – why do we ask? If we are truly children of God – and truly seek God in prayer, He will answer our prayers, whether it be in the near future, or later on.
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18-19).
At times some people may feel that God is just a being that sits far, far away from us on a throne in heaven, watching us from above. However, we should know that God is close by and available to us when we need him – through prayer.
We can pray anywhere, whether it be in a private space at home, at school, or in a public space. God is here, closer to us than we can fathom – and he will hear our prayers.
Article by Christian Henderson (17)
